Fire-alarm-telegraph system.



Y N. H. suRvEN.

' FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. APPulcATloNFlLEn rsa. 2. 1914.'.Y 1.145,11 Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHlEETS--SHEET l..

N. H. SUREN.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH-SYSTEM. APPucAloN FILED FEB.2.1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

SHEET 2.

2 SHEETS- mira sanas narran risica? NATHAN H. SUREN, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR T0 GAMIEWELL FIRE W YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW FIRE-ALABM-TELEGRAPH SYSTEMA Llldslll.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July i3, lllli.'

Application filed February 2, 1914. Serial No. 815,970.

1'0 all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that l, NATHAN H. SUREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Needham, in the county oit Norfollcand State of Massachusetts, have invented .an Improvement in Fire-Alarm-Telegraph Systems', of which the following is a specifi-l cation. 1

This invention relates to tire-alarm telegraph systems of that type wherein one or more fire alarm boxes are connected with a main circuit having' a signal-transmitter normally biased to circuit-closingr position and arranged to open the circuit for periods of time of different length in the transmission o't a signal, as for instance,those breaks in the circuit representing' the number' are `of short duration, those representing the interval of Atime between number groups are 'oi'. longer duration, and those representing the interval of time between rounds oi a number are of still longer duration, and one or more receiving-instruments are employed to receive the signals, such for instance as a signal-recorder, register, whistle, horn or gong, which ieceivingsinstrument is included in a local-circuit and controlled by a relay electrically connected with the controlling-circuit, and Which is responsive to the operation' oi the signal-transmitter.

Such form of apparatus is now in common but separate means are provided for each receiviiig-instrument and their operation is solely in connection with the particular receiving-instrument with which they are associated.

This invention has 'for its object the provision of means associated with the controlling-circuit, and. arranged to control one or more local-'circuits containing any number or kind of signal-receiving instruments,

whiclrmeans is constructed and arranged to close the local-circuitor circuits upon the occurrence of any breaks of the controllingcircuit and to open said local-circuit or circuits at the termination of those breaks which are of shorter duration than a predetermined period or lapse of time, and to open said local-circuit or circuits at the end of such period of time in case the breaks continue for a longer period of time. Such means permits the closing and subsequent opening of the local-circuit or circuits at the end of a predetermined period of time upon. the occurrence of breaks of longduraturi/.1 produced by the signal-transmitter, and the closing and 'subsequent opening; of the local-circuitorcircuits in correspondence with breaks `of shrt duration produced by the signal-transn'iitt i ln carryingr out myfrnyention I may employ a relay, such fori stance-as shown in my application No. 7422, filed February 10, 1912-5, which is associated with the coritrolling-circuit and is controlled by the signal-transmitter and which `in turn controls the local-circuit or circuits and signal-receiving-instruments controlled by said localcircuit or circuits, but as l. am the lirst to provide any means associated with the controlling-circuit and controlled lby a signaltransmitter during the transmission of a signal for controllingt a local-circuit or circuits whereby these results may be accomplished, l deem my invention to be oi' broad scope and hence notn limited to this particular means.

Figure l is a diagram representing in conventional form a lire-alarm telegraph system embodying this invention.y Fi 2 is a side view oi a relay such as may be employed. Fig. 3 is a plan view ot' the' relay shown in Fig. 2. Fifi', 4 is a vertical section of the relay taken on the dotted line 4;*4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a Jr'ra,unnentary side-Ielevation illustrating" the position of the parts at the moment when the circuit through the relay is broken and its contact-inembers are in engagement. Fig. (l is a View similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the position of the parts when the contact-members are separated by the actuation of the. spring, the circuit through the relay being still broken, as upon the occurrence ot a break in the lcontrolling-circuit oi' long` duration. I

125 represents a signal-wheel, and 126, 3.27

circuit 131, including a battery 132 or other current-supplying means.

140 represents a local-circuit-containing or having electrically connected with it in any usual or suitable manner any4 suitable form of signal-receiving instruments, such as a signal-recorder, register, whistle, horn, gong and the like. A signal-recorder 141 and a horn 142, are here shown diagram- 'matically merely illustrating some of the many forms of signal-receiving-instruments which may be employed. 38 and 39, represent a pair of contact-n'iembers connected with said local-circuit which are adapted to be engaged by a contact-member 35, to close said local-circuit and thereby cause the sig-v nal-receiving instrument or instruments thereln to respond, or 1n heu thereot any other tol-mot circuit-controller may be emy ployed.

In Figs. 2 to G, a relay is shown wherein 10 represents a pair of electromagnet-coils which are electrically connected together and to binding-posts 12, 14, mounted upon an insulating base 15, to which the controlling-circuit 131 is connected. An armature 1G cooperates with the coils 10, and is carried by an arm 18, fast upon a pivot-shaft 2t), journaled in conical recesses formed in screws 22, threaded through ears 21 provided at the opposite ends of a Aplate 2G, said plate being mounted upon the upper ends oi the coils 10, orotherwise supported. Depending 'from the shatt 20 is an arm 2S, which is bi'turcated at its lower portion and carries a transverse bar 30. The .bar 3() is provided at each end with a sleeve 31, 32, insulated therefrom by an insulating bushing 34, said sleeves carrying platinum contact-strips 35, 3G, respectively. The bar 30 with its contacts constitutes the movable contact-member. As here shown the contact-strip 35 is adapted to engage stationary contact-inembers 38, 39. and theI contact-strip 8G is adapted to engage stationary contact-uiembers 40, 41. 'lhe members 89 and 41 are connected with binding-posts 44 and 45, respectively` and the members 38 and 40 are connected to binding-posts 4G and 48. by conductors 49, 50, respectively, passing along thev under side ot' the base 15. '.lhus. as here shown, saidlnovable contactmember is arranged to control two local or relay-circuits. but any other number of local or relay-circuits may be controlled by it, as may be required. A retractile-sprmg 52 1s connected at its upper end to a screw 54,

l. which projects laterally from the upper enid of the arm 2S, and also acts as a regulating adjustment by lengthening and shortening, and the lower end of said spring is connected to an ear 56, which projects laterally from a lever 5S, fulcrumed in a slotted post 6() mounted upon a ledge 62. which projects vupwardly from the base 15. lVhen the mag net-coils 10 are energized. as shown in Fig. 1` the armature 16 is attra'ctcd. and the movable contact-member 30 is swung away from the stationary contact-members, and the spring is placed under tension. \Vh en the magnet-coils 10 are deenergized, the armature 16 is permitted to retract under the action of the spring 52, and the arm 28 with its transverse bar 30 and contact-members is swung inward, so that the contactstrips or members 3G engage their eoope 'ating stationary contact-members, 38,

39, and 40. 41. respectively. to close the local or relay-circuits. In order to control the length of time during which the contactmembers 3G. are in circuit-closing position. and consequently regulate the length of the blasts ot the whistle and horn, as well as the dashes ol the recording-instrument. a timed-actuating device is provided for said contact-members which will now be described.

A latch T0 is loosely mounted 'on the rod 30. and rests upon and is slidabl. along the bottom o't' the slot 7l. in the post (i0. The. end T2 of the latch is adapted to be engaged by a finger T4. which projects downwardly from the lever 5S. A finger 76 projects diagonally upward from the lever 58. and is adapted to be engaged by a finger TS. which projects laterally troni the arm 28. when the armature 16 is in attracted position. thereby holding the lever 5S in elevated position with the timed-actuating device. set in condition to operate. j

An escape-wheel S0 is atlixed to a shaft S2.- journaled at its ends in "conical sockets formed in the ends ot screws S4. which are threaded through the sid arms 96 oi a yoke 98, mounted upon an insulating ledge 90, which project-s upwardly from the base 15. toothed pinion or ratchet-wheel El?. is also ailixed to the shaft 8:2. and is engaged by a toothed pawl S11-. pivoted to the end ol' the lever 5S. This pawl is held in engagement with said ratchet-wheel by a coiled spring 9G. connected at one end to said pawl and at its other end to said lei'er. lv'hen the lever 5S is swung downwardly by the spring upon retraction ot the armature lli. and removal of the prop TH. the pawl Sil causes the ratchet-wheel $12 to rotate. and with it the escape-wheel 80. rlhe speed ot rotation ot the escape-wheel S0 is controlled b V a pallet 98. secured to a shaft l(l(l. journaled at its endsin conical sockets YFormed in the ends of screws 102, which are threaded through the. side-arms SG. pair of' weights lU-l are adiustably mounted-on arms 10o. which are allxed to and project radially from they sha'lit 100. y adjusting these weights toward or :trom their center ot' oscillation. the rapidity ot' oscillation of the pallet J8 may be varied and eonseipiently the speed ot rotation ot the escape-wheel 8() and shatt S2. The sp'eed of rotation ot'the escape-wheel S() determines the 4speed ot' the downward movement of the pawl yl-l and lever 5S. During downward movement otl the lever 5S its tinger T-l engages and moves longitudinally the latch T0. and thereby positively moves the movable Contact-member out ot engagement with the stationary Contaet-members.y but the time Consumed in thus moving the movable eontaet-member is determined by the speed ot downward movement ot' the lever 5S.

'hen the eireuit through the magnetcoils l0 is elosed by theI signal-transmitter the, armature lli is attraeted: the linger TS engages the linger Tli. and raises the lever 5S. and with it lhe pawl Sl-l; the spring 52 .is plaeed under inereased tension: the Inovablo contaet-member is moved away trom the stationary et ntaet-members. and the end T2 ot the lateh T0 is disengaged troni the linger T-l. theI parts` as shown in ,Fig l. the eontrollingeireuit being elosed.- lWhen the eireuit through the magnet-coils l() is broken. the.

lirst action ot the spring 52 is to retrart the arnn'iture lli. as shown in Fig. l. and to swing the eoiitaet-members 85. 3o into engament with the stationary eontaet-members 3S. 39. and l0. 41. respta'tively. to el'ose they loeal or relay-eireuits. and also to bring the end o'l the lateh 70 into engagement with the linger 7l. rThereupon the timed-aetuating-devire immediately eommenees to' operate. that is to say. the spring 5'2 eanses the lever S to move downward and thereby aetuate the timing-meehanism whieh is driven by the pawl fil: and as said lever 58 is lowered the linger T4 pushes the latrh T() toward the right, thereby moving the eontaet-memlwrs 2&5 and BG away lrom their teliow members to open the loeal or relayrireuits, and the armature l0 is moved slightly nearer they poles ot the magnet. shown in Fig. 5` where it remains until attracted upon energization o'l the magneteoils, when said operation may be repeated.

;llpon breaks ot' the eontrolling-eirruit ot the, relay of long duration, that is to say. of as long or longer duration than the predetermined time ot movement of the timed actuating-deviee the movable eontart-member will be p siti=.'ely moved to disengage its fellow n'ienibers, thereby closing and subsequ ly opening the loeal or relay-eireuit or Circuits at the end of a predetermined period of time. Upon breaks of said controlling- 'lhis is the normal position ofthe lever 5S is raised and 'returned to nor-' mal elevated position quickly bythe linger' I TS engaging the linger TG andlittingsaid lever` so that the lo al or relay-oiremt or eireuits are closed and subsequently opened in aeeordanee with or for periods of time eoextensive 'with the length of the breaks ot short duration.

l elaim:-

1. ln a tire alarm telegraph system, thel eombmation ot' a controlling circuit. a Signal transmitter arranged to break the controlling eireuit. tor periods ot' time ot two or more ditl'erent lengths in the transn'iission ot' a signal. a loeal eireuit ineluding a signal reeeiving instrument. a eontart member tor elosing said loeal eirenit. and means associated with the eontrolling eireuit and responsive to said'signal transmitter to operate the eontaet. member to elose the loeal eirruitupon the reeurrenee ot' any break in the controlling eireuit. said means being arranged to subsequently operate the. contaet member to open lsaid loeal eireuit at the end ot' a p"edetermined period ot time, upon the reeurrenee ot a break in the controlling eireuit whieh is ol as long or ot longer duration than said'l)redetermined period ot' time. and to operate said eontaet member to open said loeal eireuit upon the termination ot a break in the eontrolling eireuit whieh is ol shorter duration than the aforesaid pretletermined period oit time.

2. lna lire alarm telegraph system. a signal transmitter. a eontrolling eireuit governed thereby. a loeal eireuit ineluding a signal reeeiving instrument. a eontaet member governing the loral eireuit. eleetro-magnetieally operated means responsive to the eireuit breaks ot' the signal transmitter and direetly operating the eontart member` and means operated by said elertro-magnetie means lor operating the eontaet member independently ot said eltwtroamignetie means.

il. lhre alarm telegraph system. ineluding a signaling eireuit. a eontaet member theret'or. eleet-ro-inagnetie means t'or operating the eontaet member, and means governed by said eleetro-magnetie means t'or operating the eontaet member to break the local eireuit indepemlently ot the operation of said electro-magnetic means.

' 4. A lire alarm telegraph system ineluding a circuit, a eontaet member tor opening and closing the eireuit. eleetro-magnetie means responsive to controlling eireuit impulses operating the contact member to open and close the circuit, and additional mechanical means operated by the electromagnetic means for controlling said contact member.

ln a ire alarm telegraph system, a signal transmitter, a controlling circuit governed thereby, a local circuit including a signal, a contact member for the local circuit', electro-magnetically operated means responsive to all circuit impulses of the signal transmitter and operating the contact member to open and close the circuit, an'd additional means operated by said electromagnetic means for directly controlling the contact member between circuit breaks of the signal transmitter of greater length than a predetermined period.

6. In a fire alarm telegraph system, a local circuit including a signal 4receiving instru` nient, a contact member for opening and closing said circuit, electro-magnetic means responsive to an independent circuit control andoperating the contact member to open and close said local circuit, and additional means operated by said electro-magnetic means for operating the contact member in one direction under conditionsof non-action of the electro-magnetic means Yfor a predetermined period.

T. A lire alarm telegraph system includ-` ing a local circuit for energizing a signal instrument, a contact member for opening and closing said circuit, elratro-magnetie means responsive to an independent circuit control and operating the1contact member to open and close said local circuit. and additional means operated by the electro-magnetic means and having direct operative infiuence upon the contact member following a predetermined period of time.

8. In a lire alarm telegraph system, a local circuit, a coi'itrolling circuit, electro-inagnetic means actuated in both making and breaking the controlling circuit, a member directly actuated by the electro-magnetic means in all responses to said means under the, influence of the controlling circuit, said member controlling the local circuit, and an independent element actuated by the member in a particular operation of the electromagnetic means and in turn actuating said member to control the local circuit indcpendently ot' the electro-magnetic means.

9. ln a lire alarm telegraph system, a local circuit, a contact member therefor, an electro-magnet responsive to an independent circuit control and directly operating the contact member to both open and close the local circuit, and a time device set for operation by the electro-magnet and operating the contact lmember to open the local circuit following a predetermined interval of time.

10. In a tire alarm telegraph system, a local circuit, a contact member for opening and closing said circuit, anelectromagnet re' oonsive to an independent circuit control and directly operating said contact member in both directions, a mechanical timing device actuating the contact member to open the local circuit at the limit of operation of said timing device, and means actuated by the electro-magnet for setting the timing device for operation.

11. ln a fire alarm telegraph system, a. local circuit, a contact member for opening and closing said circuit, an electro-magnet responsive to an independent circuit control and directly operating said contact member in both directions, a mechanical timing device actuating the contact member to open the local circuit at the limit of operation of said timing device', and means actuated by the electro-magnet for setting the. timing device for operation, said means being operatively actuated by the electro-magnet inthat operation of the latter to move the contact member to open the local circuit.

12. In a iire alarmtelegraph system, a local circuit, a contact member to open and close said circuit, a mechanical timer actuating the contact member to open the local circuit at the limit of operative movement of said timer, and an electro-magnet responsive to an independent circuit control and directly operating the contact member to both open and close the local circuit, and means actuated by the electro-magnet in its movement to open the local circuit to set the timer for operation, whereby the timer is set at each local circuit opening movenient of the electro-magnet to compel a full time operationot the timer and an opening of the local circuit thereby :following a circuit control operation of' the electro-magnet. i 4

ln testimony \vlie1'eoi,Iliavc siglied my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' NATHAN l-I. SUREN. W itnesses l (mnmvcn C. Bissn'rr, Rien/mn L. TA'rTnN. 

